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Gokarna is a small temple town located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It primarily attracts religious worshippers thanks to its Mahabaleshwar Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva—it is believed that the earliest Shiva lingam can be found here. Nowadays, the town attracts tourists looking to soak in its low-key, chilled-out beach holiday vibes. In fact, the Gokarna Main Beach was listed as the 78th best beach in the world. The winter months of September to February are the best time to visit this scenic place.
Here’s a three-day Gokarna itinerary if you’re planning a getaway soon.
Start your trip with a visit to the Mahaganapati Temple which has a stone statue of an upright, standing Ganesh. It is said to be over 1,500 years old and his flat head marks the spot where the demon Ravana allegedly struck him. This is the second-most holy site in Gokarna and it’s customary for pilgrims to visit here first before heading to the neighbouring Mahabaleshwar Temple. Regardless of your religious leanings, a stop here is worth it because of the picturesque setting.
Next up is the iconic Mahabaleshwar Temple. This 4th-century Hindu temple has been mentioned in religious texts like the “Puranas”, “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata.” Marvel at its classical Dravidian architectural style when you visit.
Check out the Koti Tirtha near the Mahabaleshwar Temple, a holy man-made tank whose name means “a thousand springs.” It is common practice to take a dip in this pond before visiting the many holy temples and shrines in the area, so you will find plenty of worshippers doing just that. There is a lingam placed in the heart of the pond and the calm waters and surrounding coconut trees create an ambience of reflective spirituality. Stay here for a while before moving on.
Follow this up with a visit to the Gogarbha Cave on a hillside near Kudle Beach. Locals consider it a sacred site and there are many legends associated with it. One of those is that the cave is connected to Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. The entrance to the cave is not very big but allows passage. However, the interior is dark so carry a torch. Inside, a small chamber is illuminated by a hole in the roof of the cave from where sunlight streams in. You will be able to see a lingam and a small temple where locals offer prayers.
Relax on any of Gokarna’s beaches and take in the setting sun after a day spent exploring its religious heritage. Choose from The Coco Leaf, the Sea Heaven Restaurant, the Dattaprasad Tiffin Canteen, the Open House Fish Land, Royal Food Paradise and the Halfway Home restaurants in town.
Time to go on the Gokarna Beach Trek. The approximately 10-13km journey takes you to six lovely shores: Gokarna Main Beach, Kudle Beach, Om Beach, Half Moon Beach, Paradise Beach and Belekan Beach, the last of which people often drop from their itinerary but we recommend keeping. The main beach of Gokarna is in the city itself so you can either make it the starting or end point of your trip. Our suggestion is to head to Belekan Beach first so that you finish the trek in town.
It’s best to start your journey early in the morning around 6AM so that you are done by mid-afternoon. Don’t move on too quickly from the beaches though; savour your time on them. Om Beach, whose landscape naturally forms the Sanskrit character ॐ, is where you can have banana boat rides, jet skiing and speed boating experiences. Don’t miss the Om Beach Viewpoint. Half Moon Beach is perfect for swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding and exploring its cave system. Meanwhile, Belekan Beach is suitable for a round of beach volleyball and Frisbee.
If you have wrapped up the trek by lunchtime, reward yourself with a delicious meal and relax on your last beach stop. For those who want to stretch the trek for a day or more, you can camp for the night on the beaches here before resuming the next day.
Bring a yoga mat and settle down for some simple asanas on the beach. Follow along to YouTube tutorials on your phone or, if you have had experience of yoga before, do what comes to mind. End the practice with a few minutes of mindfulness meditation and watch the sun dip below the horizon. If stargazing sounds appealing to you then stick around to watch them come out and twinkle in the night sky.
The first stop on your final morning in Gokarna is Mirjan Fort. The 16th-century structure is known for its architectural elegance and was the location of several battles in the past. However, the origins of the fort are contested. According to one of the most popular versions, it was constructed by Rani Chennabhairadevi, the queen of Gerusoppa. The fort is a renowned architectural marvel with high ceilings and bastions. It has four main entrances along with moats, secret passageways and canals. You can approach it through wide steps made of laterite stone. The structure also has several watchtowers which offer a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding areas.
Next up is the Yana Caves. The gigantic crystalline-like rock formations stand proud and tall among the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. A 16km trek through the cool and breezy hills brings you to the foot of the mountain where the rock formations begin. At the top, a stunning sight awaits you: the awesome Bhairaveshwara and Jaganmohini peaks. A cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva lies below them. The Yana Caves are perfect for hiking, bird watching (due to their location high among the rocks) and exploring waterfalls—the Vibhooti Falls are a 9.7km trek from Yana.
The Aghanashini River is probably as old as the Western Ghats. Though not especially long, this west-flowing river has a volume of water equal to the bigger Kali or Sharavathi rivers nearby. It meanders clean and clear from Sirsi town through gorges, swamps, ancient forests and agricultural fields before draining into the Arabian Sea. Go on a mangrove tour at the Sharavathi Kandla Mangrove Boardwalk. This diverse environment is the habitat of more than 80 fish, 115 birds, and 45 mangroves and mangrove-associated species. Speak to the locals and deepen your understanding of Gokarna’s ecology.
Hop on a boat from Honnavar and travel to the nearby Basavaraj Durga Island. This small place has an area of 19 hectares and an elevation of 45-50m. The landing place is at the southeastern part of the island, where an architectural entrance made of stones was the entrance to the Basavaraj Durga Fort. The top of the island is a plateau covered with dry grass and trees that can only be seen from the sloping parts of the island.
Wrap up your trip with a visit to Nirvana Beach, an offbeat location that is secluded from the throngs of crowds and is a recluse for those who crave peace and quiet. Dive into the cool blue waters, walk the sandy shore as the sun goes down and have a picnic amid the tranquil surroundings.
The nearest railhead and airport to Gokarna are Ankola Railway Station (21km) and Goa International Airport (132km), respectively. Gokarna receives direct buses from Goa, Bengaluru and Mangaluru. You can hire a taxi to reach the town, too.
